New Chromebooks Released In 2017 Can Run Android Apps

New Chromebooks released in 2017 will feature support for Google Play Store and Android apps, according to Google.

The news comes from a brief update on Google’s Chromium Projects page. Manufacturers with upcoming Chromebooks that offer Play Store support include Dell, Acer and HP. The update also mentions Play Store support for the older models like the Asus Chromebook Flip, Acer Chromebook R11 C738T and the 2015 Google Chromebook Pixel.

Chromebooks with Play Store support will be able to download and run Android apps. In order to enable this feature, you simply have to enable Play Store support through Chromebook settings.

However, Chromebook support for apps looks to be a rolling update process. Per Google’s support page, Chromebook support will need to built into individual apps, so not all apps will automatically run on a new Chromebook purchased this year.

The move, which was teased last year, provides additional value for newer Chromebook users. As Ars Technica notes, older devices will still receive general software updates, but Play Store support puts a hard generational line in the sand for Chromebooks.

Play Store support, which benefits from faster hardware in newer Chromebooks, also looks to benefit users who already own a smartphone or tablet running Google Android. Now that Chromebooks can access the Play Store catalog, owners have access to a wider selection of applications and can integrate their Chromebooks more tightly with Google’s Android ecosystem.